She found herself growing accustomed to being relaxed and desired. This stirred conflict. On the one hand, what a lovely custom to grow into. On the other, what if it ever ceased? That was one legacy of the recent past: a new awareness of the endings contained in all beginnings (and middles, too). She remembered a long-ago notary’s office, signing a marriage contract and not being able to imagine an ending. Now endings were so obvious. She saw them everywhere, while making coffee, or getting on a bus. Here today, gone tomorrow. How it went from one to the other.